Belt-controller



W. E. STROMBERG AND E. H. SCHMICKING.

BELT CONTROLLER. APPLICATION F|LED MAR. 26, 1920.

Patented July 26, 1921.

INVENTOR S TEES 67'077056719 Efl'okrrzz'cklw ATTbRNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. STROIVIBERG AND EDWARD H. SCHMICKING, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y.; SAID STROMBERG ASSIGNOR TO SAID SCHMICKING.

BELT-CONTROLLER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. SrRoM- BERG and EDWARD I-I. SoHMIoKINe, citizens of the United States, and residents of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt-Controllers, of which the following is a specifi cation. Y

. This invention relates to a belt controller for tighteninga belt or web, and for keeping thebelt or web from running off to one side or the other of its mid-plane.

The invention provides an improved device for controlling the running of a belt, especially an endless belt orweb, so that it is kept centered on a mid-plane, and also is kept tight and stretched to take up slack.

The invention further provides a device of the character described which is simple, easily and cheaply manufactured, readily applied, durable, and satisfactory in use. The invention further provides novel combinations and arrangements of parts herein more fully set forth and defined in the appended claims.

Other features of improvement will be hereinafter set forth.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing, 1

Figure 1 is a side view-of a part f a photographic print drying machine, and illustrating the invention applied to one of the belts or webs thereof.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the controller device; and l Fig. 3.is an enlarged perspective view of the device, one end only being shown.

Referring to said drawings, numerals 10, 11 and 12 designate suitable guiding parts, overand under which a belt or web X. is adapted to run orpass in a zig-zag course or manner. The parts 10, 11 are conveniently formed of plates running crosswise of the belt, and preferably having their margins nearest the belt bent over to form a blunt rounded edge 14 over which the belt or web slides. The part 12 is conveniently a round rod, the belt or web X being adapted to slide on the under side thereof. The parts 10, 11 and 12 are conveniently joined together by inverted .T-shaped brackets 16,

' each of these brackets conveniently compris Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March '26, 1920. Serial No. 369,138.

ing a cross-piece 17 adapted to join the two parts 10, 11, and an upright 18 provided with a hole 19 through which one end of the rod 12 is adapted to fit. The ends of the rod 12 are conveniently held in place in the brackets 16 by means of cotter-pins 21 passing through holes 22 in the rod. The plates 10, 11, preferably have their margins opposite the edge 14 bent at an angle to form a flange 24 by means of which the said plates 10, 11, may be attached to the brackets 16. The bent portions 14 and 24 of the plates act to stiffen the said plates. 27, 28 designate collars, or

projections, adapted to be carried on the to pass through suitable eyes 38 in a part of the frame of the machine. The ends 36 of the'tie-pieces are preferably fastened to the frame at points closer together than the points atwhich the ends 33 are attached to the brackets 16,- so that if the device swings to one side or the other, one end will move upward in an arc, while the other end will move downward in an arc, the arcs of movement of the points of connection of the tiepieces to the brackets being indicated at 40, 41, as shownin Fig. 2.,

Operation: In the case of an endless belt, the device is most readily applied by removing one end of the rod 12 from one of the brackets, and placing the edges 14 under, and.

the rod 12 over, the belt or web X. The end of the rod 12 is then replaced in the bracket from which it was removed, the belt or web X now passing in zig-zag manner over and under the parts 10, 11 and 12.

The collars 27 and 28'are now positioned on the rod 12 a short distance inwardly from the edges of the web or belt, and preferably fixed to the said rod 12 by means of set screws 29. The tie-rods 31, 32 may now be attached to the frame, if they have previously been detached.

The belt X is drawn or turned by any suitable means. It may be turned by the drum A, a portion of which is shown. The two collars 27, 28, at the sides of the belt, depress the web or belt near its edges and has the effect of drawing the belt or web from its middle toward its sides, and hence keeps the belt stretched transversely. The zig-zig arrangement of the parts 10, 11 and .12 stretches or tightens the belt longitudinally.

If the belt or web should run off somewhat to one side, say for instance toward the right, it will move the controller (parts 10, 11, 12, etc.) along with it, by reason of its suspension from the tie-pieces 31, 32. The right side of the controller however will swing upwardly along the are 41 while the left side will swing downwardly. The pressure against the right side of the controller will be increased, which will tend to draw the controller back to its initial position,

- and this tendency will act upon the belt and hence draw it back toward the left. In this manner the controller will act on the belt or web until it'becomes centered on the midplane or the part over which it runs.

While we have illustrated and described one particular embodiment, the invention is not to be understood as limited thereto, and theinventio'n is capable of receiving manyother embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. In combination, a belt or web and a controller (said controller comprising zigzag guides between which said belt is adapted to pass in a zig-zagmanner) and tie pieces at each end of said controller for suspending the same, said tie-pieces having their points of connection 'to said controller farther apart than their points of con.-

nection at their other ends, whereby the ends of said controller will move in opposite directions with respect to the plane of the belt, whenit is moved to one side or the'other by said belt.

2. In combination, a belt or web and a controller (said controller comprising zig-zag guides between which said belt is adapted topas's in a zig-zag manner), and tie-pieces.

at each end of said controller for suspending the same, said tie-pieces having their points of connection to said controller far ther apart than their points of connection at their other ends, whereby the ends of said controller will move in opposite directions with respect to the plane of the belt, when itis moved to one side or the other by said belt, said guides comprising projections adaptedto depress the portions of the belt in the vicinity thereof.

3. In combination, a belt or web and a controller, (said controller comprising zigzag guides between which said belt is adapt-' ed to pass in a zig-zag manner) and tiepieces at each endof said controller for suspending the same, said tie-pieces having by said belt, said guides comprising projections adapted to depress the portions of the belt in the vicinity thereof, said projections being located near the edge portions of the belt.

4. In combination, a belt or web and a controller, and tie-pieces at each end of said controller for suspending the same, said tie-pieces having their points of connection to said controller farther apart than their points of connection at their other ends, whereby the ends of said controller will move in opposite directions with respect to the plane of the belt, when it is moved to one side or the other by said belt, said controller comprising a guide having projections thereon adapted to depress the portions of the belt in the vicinity thereof.

5. A controller for belts or webs, comprising zig-zag guides, one of said guides having projections thereon adapted to depress portions of the belt. i f

6. A controller for belts or web's, comprising zig-zagv guides, one of said guides being a rod havingtwo collars adapted to depress the side portions of the belt inwardly its edges. V

7. A controller for belts or webs, compri's ing zig-zag guides, one of saidguides being prising three zig-zag guides, two of said guides being plates bent over near one edge to form a rounded edge for the belt to' slide on.

9. A controller for belts fromor webs, compris- 7 ing three zig-zag guides, two of'said guides being plates bent over near one edge to form a rounded edge for the belt to slide on, said third guide being a rod.

10. A controller for guides beingplates bent over near one edge to form a rounded edge, for the belt to slide on, said third guide beinga rod, and 'a belts or web s, com prising three zig-zagguides, two of 'said' bracket having cross-pieces. joining said plates and an upright on which said rod is carried. i

-11. A controller for belts or'webs. com-. prising three zig-zag guides, two'of said guides being plates bent over near one edge to form a rounded edge for the belt to slide on, said thirdguide being a 'rod,'said rod having two collars thereon adapted to depress the side portions of the belt inwardly from its edges.

12. A controller for belts or webs, com- 5 prising three zig-zag guides, two of said guides being plates bent over near one edge to form a rounded edge for the belt to slide on, said plates having the other edge portion bent to form a flange.

Signed at New York, in the county of 10 New York and State of New York, this 13th day of March, A. D. 1920.

WILLIAM E. STROMBERG. EDWARD H. SOHMIGKING. 

